D&D: Honor Among Thieves Super Bowl Trailer Is So Action-Packed It Hurts

[Nergal]

 

 

The Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves' Super Bowl trailer is a mind-boggling display of pure action. The film, which is telling a story from the world of the iconic fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, stars Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, and Hugh Grant. The movie blends action and comedy and was directed by writing duo Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley. Coming to theaters March 31, it follows an unlikely group of adventurers who find that they might be the world's only hope of protection from a growing evil.

Today, Paramount Pictures unveils the action-packed new Super Bowl ad spot for Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
 

The teaser is brief, but it is packed to the brim with so many different action scenes it’s almost overwhelming. In such a short time, it manages to introduce the weapons and fighting styles of each main cast member, as well as tease some additional fantastical mayhem.

Why It Has Been So Difficult To Bring Dungeons & Dragons To The Screen
 

 

Although Dungeons & Dragons has been an enduringly popular game since its inception in the mid-1970s, it has yet to be adapted into a successful film. There was an attempt to bring the world to live-action with the 2000 film Dungeons & Dragons, but it flopped, failing to earn back its $45 million budget. The film, which starred Jeremy Irons, Thora Birch, Richard O'Brien, and comedy icon Marlon Wayans, did however spawn two direct-to-video sequels in 2005 and 2012.

One major reason for this is likely the malleability of the game. While there are storylines players can follow, the game is shaped by the decisions they make and the dice they roll, so every game is fundamentally different. This is part of its longtime appeal, but it also prevents it from having a recognizable cast of characters or storyline that makes the most sense to adapt.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves still needs to prove itself in the theatrical arena. However, it already seems like the Dungeons & Dragons adaptation with the biggest shot at becoming a major hit, especially thanks to appearances from major stars from the Fast and Furious and Star Trek franchises. This is in large part thanks to the way it has found a story that slots into modern blockbuster tropes, including found family and wry comedy, without sacrificing the wide world of fantastical creatures and items that can be found in the game.